Description:

Lot 103. AN ENGRAVED WHITE BRONZE BOWL
Ghazanavid, Afghanistan, 12th Century and Ilkhanid, Iran, 14th Century

Cast from a pale copper alloy with a silvery surface sheen, the hemispherical bowl is engraved in fine detail with dense vegetal scrolls and arabesques enclosed within multiple horizontal bands. The upper register features two incised friezes of alternating leaf motifs and beaded lines encircling the rim, bordered by a narrow band of geometric patterning. The exterior decoration consists of stylised vine tendrils interlaced with rosettes and palmettes, executed with shallow precision against a subtly textured ground. Traces of dark infill and red patination are visible in the recessed areas, accentuating the design.

The underside is engraved with a concentric medallion of overlapping petals and scrolling foliage within a narrow border of lobed arches. The interior, smooth from wear and oxidisation, retains patches of reddish-brown and green toning typical of aged white bronze.

Bowls of this type represent the continuation and adaptation of early Islamic metalwork traditions across successive dynasties. The Ghaznavid preference for vegetal ornament and the Ilkhanid refinement of composition are both evident in this piece, reflecting the enduring synthesis of Persian and Central Asian decorative idioms in the medieval Islamic world.



Provenance, lot 26 Christies, Islamic & Indian Works Of Art, 24/10/19

Diameter: 11.5cm

Height: 8cm

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November 4, 2025 1:00 PM GMT
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